7th Space Council

25 November 2010

The "Space Council" is the joint association at the ministerial level of the European Union Competitiveness Council and of the ESA Council. It will meet in Brussels next 25 November under the co-presidency of Belgium (EU) and Italy (ESA).

The Space Council was created by the Framework Agreement between the EU and the ESA. It will meet for the seventh time on 25 November 2010 and will examine the conclusions of two events in the field of space organised under the Belgian presidency of the EU, that is, "Space for the African Citizen", which will be held in Brussels on 16 September 2010 (more information), and the second international ministerial conference on space exploration, which will be held in Brussels on 21 October 2010 (more information). The other items on the agenda for the Space Council will deal with the sustainable use of the Galileo and GMES systems, the monitoring of climate change, space for security/defence and the governing of space activities in Europe.

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Councils: Competitiveness

Where

Justus Lipsius, Rue de la Loi 175, 1048 Brussels

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Olivier Lemaitre
Advisor
lema@belspo.be
+32 (0)2 238 34 08
+32 (0)473 78 89 20
Belgian High Representation for Space Policy

Decision-making process

Council of the EU:
The Council decides

The Council decides on legislative proposals. This takes place in accordance with normal legislative procedure, in consultation with the European Parliament. The Council meets in various configurations. There have been ten council configurations since the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect. Each council configuration deals with a number of fixed areas and is comprised of the authorised national ministers. Every minister in the Council is authorised to enter into agreements on behalf of their government. Each council configuration – except for the Foreign Affairs Council, which is chaired by the High Representative – is chaired by the member state currently presiding over the rotating six month role.
European Parliament:
The European Parliament decides

The European Parliament has various commissions. They prepare the contents of the recommendations for the legislative proposals. The European Parliament, together with the Council, accepts legislative proposals from the European Commission. Since the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect, the procedure whereby both institutions decide on the vast majority of the areas on an equal footing (normal legislative procedure) has been applicable. In this normal legislative procedure, both institutions must approve the legislative proposal in question. The European Parliament can accept, reject or change the content of legislative proposals.
Council working groups and the COREPER:
The council working groups and the COREPER prepare

The council working groups and the Permanent Representatives Committee prepare the Council activities. They attempt to prepare the ground as much as possible for a compromise. There is therefore a long and intensive preparation before every Council meeting. The member state chairing the Council presides over the Coreper and the bulk of the council working groups.
European Commission:
The European Commission draws up new legislative proposals

The European Commission draws up legislative proposals that it presents to the Parliament and the Council. These proposals must protect the interests of the EU as a whole. The Commission is comprised of 27 members. Each member state therefore nominates one member. The College of Commissioners meets every week on Wednesday mornings in Brussels. In these meetings they discuss each point on the agenda and then make a collective decision. Each member of the Commission can request a vote. The European Commission decides by normal majority.

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

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